The University of Maryland is a key contributor of turfgrass research for golf courses in the transition zone. As an important resource for superintendents around the region, many people look to this university for unbiased information regarding new products and practices around the industry. And with the recent hiring of pathologist Dr. Joseph Roberts, the program shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. On July 15, about 100 folks gathered for the University of Maryland Biennial Turfgrass Research Field Day at the Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Facility.
The field day consisted of 23 stations, each of which was highlighted by a brief description from the researching faculty member. Throughout the tour, attendees listened to presentations about NTEP trials, fungicide evaluations, fertilizer assessments, wetting agent studies and more.
Dr. Roberts' research is cruising already, as he evaluates fungicide programs for the control of dollar spot on creeping bentgrass playing surfaces. He will continue to collect data on these trials throughout the year, and hopes to gain further insight on how to maximize the efficacy of fungicide applications. Looking to the future, Dr. Roberts plans to study microbial populations in turfgrass systems, as well as develop integrated pest management strategies to limit the occurrence of turfgrass diseases. No question that the University of Maryland is lucky to have Dr. Roberts, and his energy and experience will be an asset to the program moving forward.
As I've written numerous times on this blog, BMPs are a big topic around the Mid-Atlantic and throughout the country. Hence, Dr. Mark Carroll and his graduate student, Xiayun Xiao, are experimenting with the implementation of BMPs to reduce runoff and lawn fertilizer use. What is most interesting is that a lot of these plots are used as educational platforms for showing people outside the industry the effects of different management practices. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, and these plots give great visual evidence that lawn fertility (applied in appropriate capacities), promotes a healthier lawn, which in turn reduces nutrient runoff and leaching. In this experiment, plots that were mowed at 1 inch and not fertilized or treated with herbicides were almost completely overtaken by weeds. Conversely, plots mowed at 3 and 4 inches, even without fertility or herbicides, showed a greater reduction in weed incidence, given the thicker stand of turf. However, the healthiest of plots were those that had a higher height of cut and received appropriate levels of fertility.
I was especially interested in research evaluating the practical application of using microclover in lawns to reduce nitrogen applications. Clover is a legume, which produces its own nitrogen in the soil. Breeding programs have developed this "microclover" in hopes that it can be implemented in home lawns to reduce the requirement for N fertilization. While you may initially be skeptical, I believe there is a future for it. In my own observation, the microclover sits underneath the turfgrass canopy enough that you really can't even see it while looking over the lawn. And while it doesn't completely eliminate all fertilizer applications, I believe it is a necessary consideration for an industry that is facing a possible county-wide pesticide ban just a few miles down the street from University of Maryland.
In a not-so-dissimilar study, Dr. Tom Turner is evaluating the effects of various nitrogen sources on annual grass and total weed coverage. Again, this research helps support collaborative efforts with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program and local ordinances aimed at eliminating lawn care inputs. In short, 3 pounds N/1000 square feet per year from urea nitrogen sources proved to eliminate total weed coverage more than the 1 pound rate. Furthermore, urea fertilizers seemed to suppress weed pressure more than organic sources. That being said, N rate proves to have a greater significance on weed pressure than does N source.
In closing, a big thanks to all of the University of Maryland faculty and staff who continue to do great work on behalf of the turf and golf industries. As these ongoing experiments wrap up this fall, I'm sure you will be hearing more about this research during winter educational seminars and beyond.
The field day consisted of 23 stations, each of which was highlighted by a brief description from the researching faculty member. Throughout the tour, attendees listened to presentations about NTEP trials, fungicide evaluations, fertilizer assessments, wetting agent studies and more.
Dr. Roberts' research is cruising already, as he evaluates fungicide programs for the control of dollar spot on creeping bentgrass playing surfaces. He will continue to collect data on these trials throughout the year, and hopes to gain further insight on how to maximize the efficacy of fungicide applications. Looking to the future, Dr. Roberts plans to study microbial populations in turfgrass systems, as well as develop integrated pest management strategies to limit the occurrence of turfgrass diseases. No question that the University of Maryland is lucky to have Dr. Roberts, and his energy and experience will be an asset to the program moving forward.
As I've written numerous times on this blog, BMPs are a big topic around the Mid-Atlantic and throughout the country. Hence, Dr. Mark Carroll and his graduate student, Xiayun Xiao, are experimenting with the implementation of BMPs to reduce runoff and lawn fertilizer use. What is most interesting is that a lot of these plots are used as educational platforms for showing people outside the industry the effects of different management practices. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, and these plots give great visual evidence that lawn fertility (applied in appropriate capacities), promotes a healthier lawn, which in turn reduces nutrient runoff and leaching. In this experiment, plots that were mowed at 1 inch and not fertilized or treated with herbicides were almost completely overtaken by weeds. Conversely, plots mowed at 3 and 4 inches, even without fertility or herbicides, showed a greater reduction in weed incidence, given the thicker stand of turf. However, the healthiest of plots were those that had a higher height of cut and received appropriate levels of fertility.
I was especially interested in research evaluating the practical application of using microclover in lawns to reduce nitrogen applications. Clover is a legume, which produces its own nitrogen in the soil. Breeding programs have developed this "microclover" in hopes that it can be implemented in home lawns to reduce the requirement for N fertilization. While you may initially be skeptical, I believe there is a future for it. In my own observation, the microclover sits underneath the turfgrass canopy enough that you really can't even see it while looking over the lawn. And while it doesn't completely eliminate all fertilizer applications, I believe it is a necessary consideration for an industry that is facing a possible county-wide pesticide ban just a few miles down the street from University of Maryland.
In a not-so-dissimilar study, Dr. Tom Turner is evaluating the effects of various nitrogen sources on annual grass and total weed coverage. Again, this research helps support collaborative efforts with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program and local ordinances aimed at eliminating lawn care inputs. In short, 3 pounds N/1000 square feet per year from urea nitrogen sources proved to eliminate total weed coverage more than the 1 pound rate. Furthermore, urea fertilizers seemed to suppress weed pressure more than organic sources. That being said, N rate proves to have a greater significance on weed pressure than does N source.
In closing, a big thanks to all of the University of Maryland faculty and staff who continue to do great work on behalf of the turf and golf industries. As these ongoing experiments wrap up this fall, I'm sure you will be hearing more about this research during winter educational seminars and beyond.
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| Dr. Roberts talks about dollar spot research on creeping bentgrass turf. |
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| Dr. Turner presents some of his field research. |
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| Xiayun Xiao explains her graduate research. |
